The CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship 2025 in Dar es Salaam delivered all the emotions, drama, and moments of brilliance that East African football fans could have hoped for. For the Harambee Starlets of Kenya, it was a journey that captured the spirit of competition and the resilience of a team on the rise, even as the final whistle brought both pride and heartbreak.
A journey marked by dominance, unity, and hope
The build-up to this year’s CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship was filled with anticipation after the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) confirmed the Starlets’ participation. The tournament, hosted in Tanzania from June 12 to 22, featured fierce rivals: Tanzania, Kenya, South Sudan, Burundi, and Uganda. As the championship unfolded, it quickly became clear that Kenya and hosts Tanzania would be the protagonists for the region’s crown, sharing 23 goals between them before their dramatic meeting in the final.
Kenya hit the ground running with supremacy in the group stage: they dispatched Burundi with a 3-0 win, followed by an exuberant 4-0 demolition of Uganda, calming the predatory threat of the Crested Cranes. The momentum continued as the Starlets breezed past South Sudan, again notching up a convincing 4-0 scoreline. By the time the last group match concluded, the Harambee Starlets had stormed into the final on a wave of confidence and unity.
The final showdown – where the finest margins separate agony and glory
Everything hinged on the final clash at the Azam Sports Complex between two teams who had, up until then, not conceded a single goal. Kenya and Tanzania had both shown they were head and shoulders above their regional peers, but football’s narrative is seldom straightforward.
The match was tight from the outset, both sides aware of what was at stake. Kenya’s lineup, with goalkeeper Lilian Awuor as a steadying presence and captain Ruth Ingosi marshalling the defense alongside Enez Mango and Lavender Akinyi, seemed well-prepared for Tanzanian attacks. In midfield, the likes of Diana Wacera, Fasila Adhiambo, and Martha Amunyolet sought to control possession and feed the forward duo of Violet Nanjala and Tumaini Waliaula.
Yet, as sometimes happens in the beautiful game, a single moment changed everything. Just after halftime, a lethal run by Tanzania’s Clara Luvanga down Kenya’s right earned the hosts a dangerous cross. Miscommunication between Awuor and defender Mango resulted in an own goal at the 49th minute—a cruel blow that ultimately proved decisive. Tanzania, riding high on home support, held firm to claim the championship 1-0. The Starlets’ dream of reclaiming the regional trophy faded, but not without a display of resilience and fight until the last whistle.
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Individual errors, collective lessons, and bright sparks
In the immediate aftermath, coach Beldine Odemba’s words echoed with a mixture of disappointment and optimism: “The girls played well, let’s just agree that Tanzania were a much better team today… We conceded a very cheap goal and we could do better. It might be a lack of communication.” The heartbreak was palpable, but so was the sense that this was a team learning in real time, with every victory and every setback shaping their future approach.
Player ratings from the final reflected the fine margins of tournament football. While goalkeeper Lilian Awuor was mostly solid—pulling off crucial saves—her role in the own goal was a harsh reminder of sport’s unpredictability. Ruth Ingosi and Dorcas Shikobe were pillars at the back, standing resolute under a barrage of Tanzanian attacks. Yet some, like right-back Vivian Nasaka and winger Violet Nanjala, struggled to impose themselves, underlining the pressure of high-stakes finals.
A squad blending experience with the energy of youth
One of the hallmarks of Kenya’s run at the CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship was the willingness of coach Odemba to back the next generation. Several new faces were introduced, including the promising Medina Abubakar from Kibera Soccer Women FC. As the coach explained, giving young players an opportunity was not simply a tactical decision—it was an investment in the future.
Odemba’s vision is clear: “Those young players are the future of Harambee Starlets. If we want to qualify for the 2026 WAFCON and the World Cup, we also have to look at these young players.” The likes of Amunyolet, Nanjala, and Mboya rewarded that faith throughout the tournament with energetic performances and a hunger to succeed.
Numbers that tell a story of progress and promise
While the trophy may have eluded them, the Starlets’ statistics in Tanzania revealed serious progress. Eleven goals in just four matches—without conceding until the final—speaks of both attacking prowess and tactical solidity. Striker Martha Amunyolet led the charge with four tournament goals, ably supported by Nanjala and Mboya. The team’s defensive line remained largely impenetrable, conceding only to the unfortunate own goal that sealed their fate.
These numbers matter, but so too do the intangibles: belief, growth, togetherness. Kenya’s journey in Dar es Salaam was a demonstration of a regional powerhouse ready to challenge Africa’s best, learning from every duel and setback.
Historical echoes and rivalry rekindled
This final was more than a football match—it was the latest chapter in an evolving rivalry between two proud nations. Kenya, 2019 champions, and Tanzania, past victors in 2016 and 2018, have now met four times in the championship’s history, including two finals. Saturday’s encounter was a reminder of how slim the gap is at the top of East African women’s football, and how next time, fortunes could tilt the other way.
The road ahead—WAFCON, World Cup, and a pledge to improve
For the Harambee Starlets, the pain of defeat already fuels fresh ambitions. With the Africa Women Cup of Nations in Morocco just weeks away and World Cup dreams simmering on the horizon, these experiences will serve as vital lessons. Odemba and her technical team are realistic but determined: better communication, clinical finishing, and unwavering belief are their priorities moving forward.
The 2025 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship was, in every sense, a celebration of Kenya’s growth, East Africa’s passion, and the indomitable spirit of competitors who fight for every inch. The disappointment of defeat will fade, but the lessons, unity, and ambition forged in Dar es Salaam will push the Starlets to even greater heights. In sport, as in life, it is sometimes in heartbreak that the seeds of future glory are sown.
